Weekend Breakfast with Africa

Amid the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, the Shukumisa project's #16DaysofDiscontent reports back on the performance of various government departments and civil groups.

While the South African Police Services (Saps) implementation of the Domestic Violence Act has largely been unimpressive, there is evidence of consistent steps are taken by some divisions within the national office, as well as in the Western Cape, to improve the police response to domestic violence.

The National office and Western Cape Saps have been scored seven out of 10, whereas the remaining eight provincial offices score three out of 10.

Listen to the full conversation below:

The biggest issue is police responses to women who come to the station seeking protection orders.

— Samantha Waterhouse, Project Head of the Women and Democracy Initiative at the Dullah Omar Institute

There are problems in the understanding of the Domestic Violence Act and how the act should be implemented.

— Samantha Waterhouse, Project Head of the Women and Democracy Initiative at the Dullah Omar Institute

We also see problems in the attitudes people have towards domestic violence and those who report it, particularly, in same-sex and gender non-conforming partnerships.

— Samantha Waterhouse, Project Head of the Women and Democracy Initiative at the Dullah Omar Institute

Police are reluctant to lay assault charges over domestic disputes.

— Samantha Waterhouse, Project Head of the Women and Democracy Initiative at the Dullah Omar Institute